Rosalind Mae James Udell was born in Manhattan, NY on February 24, 1933, to Mancy and Erma James. She grew up in Pantego, NC and spent her teen years caring for her mother, who was wheelchair-bound with arthritis. She attended college at Cheyney University in Pennsylvania, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. While working as an elementary school teacher in Philadelphia, she met Ralph Udell – a young Army lieutenant from White Springs, Florida. The two courted for only a year before they were married in February of 1964. They were devoted to one another for just over 50 years until Ralph passed in August of 2014.

Rosalind was a dedicated educator for over 30 years, first as an elementary school teacher and later as a mathematics paraprofessional. She was a fierce believer in the power and importance of education, and even after retirement, she worked as a member of The Continental Societies, Inc. to further educational opportunities and provide scholarship assistance to Black children in need. She was equally dedicated to her friends, never forgetting a birthday card and always remembering to call and check in if she hadn’t heard from them in a while. More than this, Rosalind embodied the qualities of the virtuous wife described in Proverbs 31, whose “worth is far above rubies.” Every day, she poured out her joy, love, energy, and encouragement to her family: rising every morning to send them out of the door with a hot breakfast and a packed lunch and having a delicious dinner on the table every night; driving her daughter all over town to dance lessons, music lessons, swimming lessons, and theatre rehearsals; welcoming friends and family to her home at Thanksgiving and Christmas to share in a bountiful table.

She now joins her beloved husband, her sister Rhomalda Kane, best friend Lula Johnson, and all the Ancestors in Heaven to watch over her daughter Rachelle; her sister-in-law Helen Udell; her nieces Mary Kane, Mikki Weston, Renee Byrden, Jennifer Cain, Jessica Kane, Gloria Cain and daughters Emily & Erica; her nephews Dr. Robert Cain, Robert Cain Jr. and son Robert III, Aaron Kane and sons Jadon & AJ; cousins Douglas & Lila Udell, Henrietta Jackson, Jeanette Udell, Philip Ghee, Theron & Sylvia Savage, Lisa Savage; and many, many more Godleys, Newsomes, James’, and Udells in addition to a host of cherished extended family, friends and neighbors.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests you to consider a donation to the Atlanta Community Food Bank or to any food bank in your locality to honor Rosalind’s lifelong faithfulness to Christ’s instruction to feed those who hunger and thirst.